Workload amplification metering and management

Abstract

A data storage device includes at least one data storage medium. The data storage device also includes a workload rating associated with data access operations carried out on the at least one data storage medium. The data storage device further includes a controller configured to enable performance of the data access operations, and change a rate of consumption of the workload rating by internal device management operations carried out in the data storage device in response to a change in a workload consumed by host commands serviced by the data storage device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A data storage device comprising:
 at least one data storage medium; and 
 a controller communicatively coupled to the data storage medium and configured to change usage of the data storage device for at least one of data read or data write operations to the data storage medium based on a workload of the data storage device and a workload rating of the data storage device, 
 wherein the change in the usage of the data storage device is carried out independently of any host device connected to the data storage device; 
 wherein the controller is configured to change the usage of the data storage device by changing caching policies of the data storage device; and 
 wherein:
 the at least one data storage medium comprises at least one data storage disc having a media cache portion and main storage portion; 
 the data storage device further comprises a solid state cache memory; and 
 changing the caching policies comprises changing one or more criteria that determine whether to transfer data from the solid state cache memory to the media cache portion prior to transferring the data to the main storage portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The data storage device of  claim 1  and wherein the workload of the data storage device comprises a workload consumed by host commands serviced by the data storage device and a workload consumed by internal device management operations carried out within the data storage device. 
     
     
       3. The data storage device of  claim 2  and wherein the controller is configured to further change the usage of the data storage device by changing a manner in which the internal device management operations are carried out, thereby impacting a rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
     
     
       4. The data storage device of  claim 3  and wherein:
 the internal device management operations comprise read look ahead (RLA) activity; 
 the controller is configured to change a level of the RLA activity; and 
 the change in the level of the RLA activity impacts the rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
 
     
     
       5. The data storage device of  claim 3  and wherein:
 the internal device management operations comprise background operation activity; 
 the controller is configured to change a level of the background operation activity; and 
 the change in the level of the background operation activity impacts the rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
 
     
     
       6. A method comprising:
 providing at least one data storage medium in a data storage device; and 
 changing usage of the data storage device for at least one of data read or data write operations to the data storage medium based on a workload of the data storage device and a workload rating of the data storage device; 
 wherein the change in the usage of the data storage device is carried out independently of any host device connected to the data storage device; 
 wherein changing the usage of the data storage device comprises changing caching policies of the data storage device; and 
 wherein:
 providing the at least one data storage medium comprises providing at least one data storage disc having a media cache portion and a main storage portion; and 
 changing the caching policies comprises changing one or more criteria that determine whether to transfer data from a solid state cache memory of the data storage device to the media cache portion prior to transferring the data to the main storage portion. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  and wherein the workload of the data storage device comprises a workload consumed by host commands serviced by the data storage device and a workload consumed by internal device management operations carried out within the data storage device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  and wherein changing the usage of the data storage device further comprises changing a manner in which the internal device management operations are carried out, thereby impacting a rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  and wherein:
 the internal device management operations comprise read look ahead (RLA) activity; 
 a level of the RLA activity is changed; and 
 the change in the level of the RLA activity impacts the rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  and wherein:
 the internal device management operations comprise background operation activity; 
 a level of the background operation activity is changed; and 
 the change in the level of the background operation activity impacts the rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
 
     
     
       11. A data storage device comprising:
 at least one data storage medium; 
 a workload rating associated with data access operations carried out on the at least one data storage medium; and 
 a controller configured to:
 enable performance of the data access operations; and 
 change a rate of consumption of the workload rating by internal device management operations carried out in the data storage device in response to a change in a workload consumed by host commands serviced by the data storage device; 
 
 wherein the controller is configured to change the rate of consumption of the workload rating by changing caching policies of the data storage device; and 
 wherein:
 the at least one data storage medium comprises at least one data storage disc having a media cache portion and main storage portion; 
 the data storage device further comprises a solid state cache memory; and 
 changing the caching policies comprises changing one or more criteria that determine whether to transfer data from the solid state cache memory to the media cache portion prior to transferring the data to the main storage portion. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The data storage device of  claim 11  and wherein:
 the internal device management operations comprise read look ahead (RLA) activity; 
 the controller is configured to change a level of the RLA activity; and 
 the change in the level of the RLA activity impacts the rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
 
     
     
       13. The data storage device of  claim 11  and wherein:
 the internal device management operations comprise background operation activity; 
 the controller is configured to change a level of the background operation activity; and 
 the change in the level of the background operation activity impacts the rate of consumption of the workload rating. 
 
     
     
       14. The data storage device of  claim 11  and wherein the one or more criteria relate to a data transfer length from the solid state cache memory.